WEST AKRON — Summit County Public Health announced Dec. 4 that it has purchased the Fairway Center building complex at 1867 W. Market St.

The district paid $600,000 for the building, which is located behind the Acme No. 1 store. Some staff will be moved into the space soon, according to Donna Skoda, of the health district.

Officials said the Akron, Barberton and Summit County health districts combined in 2011 and since that time have been searching for adequate space to serve as its new main campus. Currently, the district is headquartered on Graham Road Circle in Stow.

Fairway Center was built in 1979 and was added onto in 1990. It has housed a variety of businesses over the years.

Skoda said the health district is planning significant remodeling over the next year to 18 months in the building, which will house mostly administrative staff members. Leases of current tenants of the building will be honored, she added. Eventually the district plans to use the entire building, she said.

The health district does plan to keep staff at the Stow location at this time, Skoda said.

Officials added the health district would continue to provide services at satellite locations throughout the county.

“The Board of Health and our staff are extremely pleased to be able to assume this fine facility as the future home of the health district,” said Health Commissioner Gene Nixon.

VAP, Furnace Street Mission providing special holiday for families

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Victim Assistance Program (VAP) and Furnace Street Mission will provide up to 150 holiday food and gift baskets to victims of crime and trauma in Summit County Dec. 20.

Each year, VAP advocates identify families in Summit County to be the recipients of a holiday meal and toys for the children.

This program is made possible through donations from individuals and corporations, as well as support from local law enforcement agencies. The baskets include a holiday meal and toys for the children as a way of letting them know that the harm caused to them is not forgotten at this time of the year, according to VAP officials.

Volunteers, including the Akron PeaceMakers from the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and the Akron Police Department Explorers, help to assemble the baskets of food and toys. The baskets will be delivered by officers from 11 police departments and volunteers.

GREATER AKRON — Those who know of everyday heroes are encouraged to nominate him or her to be a hero for the Red Cross.

Each year, the American Red Cross of Summit and Portage Counties holds two events, the Acts of Courage in Summit County and the Real Heroes Breakfast in Portage County to honor local individuals who have performed courageous acts to save a life. The Red Cross is currently seeking nominations for the 2012 calendar year.

To submit a nomination, individuals can visit the Red Cross website at www.sum mitcounty.redcross.org and click on the “Nominate Your Hero” icon. Nominations can be accepted online or through the use of a mail-in/fax-in nomination form that can be downloaded from the website or obtained from the Red Cross offices at 501 W. Market St. in West Akron.

The American Red Cross annually recognizes those residents of Summit and Portage counties who have acted courageously and selflessly in a time of emergency. Often at great risk and sacrifice to their own personal safety, comfort and well-being, these ordinary individuals have acted in a heroic manner by reaching out to help others, according to Red Cross officials.

The heroic event may have happened anywhere but must have occurred in 2012. Nominees must reside or be employed in Summit or Portage counties. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 31. All nominations will be reviewed by a judge’s panel, and heroes will be selected in January.

The selected 2012 heroes will be honored during a reception in the spring.

According to library officials, Jackson has been a tireless, lifelong social activist who has given her voice and support to issues that concern the poor and disabled in the Akron area for decades.

Jackson served as deputy mayor of the city of Akron for nearly 20 years, retiring in June 2003. She was the first black woman to serve in an Akron mayor’s cabinet, according to library officials.

Prior to becoming deputy mayor, Jackson worked for Goodwill Industries, followed by a 16-year career with the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) as the social and tenant services administrator.

Awards she has received include the Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award, the Ohio Black Women Leadership Caucus Rosa Parks Award, United Way Distinguished Service Award, Akron Urban League Community Service Award and induction into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and the African American History Makers Inc.

An AMHA 28-unit handicapped housing development was named Dorothy O. Jackson Terrace in her honor, and the Jewish National Fund named a park in Israel in her honor.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture is presented by the library and the Eta Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. The library and fraternal organization began the lecture in 1985.

For more information, call 330-643-9090 or visit www.akronlibrary.org.

Volunteers sought for War of 1812 grave project

OHIO — The Ohio Society, U.S. Daughters of 1812, is looking for volunteers with digital cameras to help in a project to photograph grave markers of the more than 7,000 known veterans of the War of 1812 buried in Ohio cemeteries.

This project is part of Ohio’s War of 1812 Bicentennial commemoration and supported by the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, a state-legislated commission made up of citizen volunteers.

Society President Susan Leininger said the society is developing a searchable website of all of the veterans buried in Ohio at www.ohio daughters1812.org/gravein dex. By going to the website and searching under a county, anyone can see which cemeteries have veterans buried there and the names of the veterans identified thus far.

Photos of the veteran’s grave marker, his wife’s grave marker and the cemetery sign are displayed, as available, on each veteran’s web page. Leininger noted this is a work in progress, and the veteran list should not yet be considered complete.

The society is seeking volunteers across the state to help document the remaining grave markers. Anyone interested in taking digital photos of one or more cemeteries in their county should contact Leininger at ohiousd1812@gmail.com for further information.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something for your community in honor of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812,” Leininger said. “This is a great service project for groups like Scouts or for anyone who wants to be part of the bicentennial celebration.”

For more information on this project and other War of 1812 Bicentennial events, go to www.warof1812.ohio.gov.

Four individuals honored for Northeast Ohio impact

ROOTSTOWN — Four individuals were honored for their impact on Northeast Ohio Dec. 12 during the annual Impact Awards Celebration presented by the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation.

According to Foundation President Rick Kellar, the program honored four individuals who demonstrate exemplary performance in the areas of mental health, education and the arts.

“Nominated by someone in their community, these committed individuals connect personal passions with their professional pursuits, making a resounding impact on those around them,” he said.

Mark Mayle, of Mayle Homes in Minerva, received the Award for Enterprise for providing permanent homes to individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses. According to Foundation officials, without quality, affordable housing, many of these individuals would remain largely dependent on their families or be living in jail, shelters or on the streets. Many of the individuals living in Mayle Homes become active in their communities, achieve independence and enjoy improved overall health and life satisfaction, according to Foundation officials.

Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio, of the Summit County Juvenile Court, received the Award for Innovation for her approach to creating programs that address the mental health of youth. According to Foundation officials, Teodosio’s progressive methods have inspired widespread attention for creativity in alternative sentencing and new and enhanced programs. Her concept of integrating mental health and substance abuse treatment has gained national acclaim for the Crossroads Program.

Leslie Parker Barnes, of Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop (YEPAW), received the Award for Imagination for her ability to inspire youth, many from urban and disadvantaged communities, to develop a passion for the arts. According to Foundation officials, Barnes uses guidance and love to encourage young people to pursue lifestyles of excellence. She has touched the lives of more than 7,500 middle and high school students through YEPAW’s Summer Workshop, its Institute or the YEPAW 365 program.

Andrea Denton, facilitator of the Survivors Support Group, of Akron, received the Compass Award for her leadership in Summit County advocating for the quality and improvement of overall health and wellness of others. Her passion was instrumental in the development of the Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition, according to Foundation officials. She retired this year from the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board but continues to facilitate the Survivors Support Group, providing comfort and direction to individuals grieving the loss of loved ones due to suicide.

All of the awards were presented during the Foundation’s annual event at the Ralph Regula Conference Center at Northeast Ohio Medical University.